Newsletter

Rincon City Council approves condemnation resolution

RINCON - City Council approved Monday night after a closed meeting a resolution to condemn property needed to complete a waterline project along Ga. 21.

City officials are negotiating with the property owner, and condemnation would be used only as a "last resort," Councilman Paul Wendelken said Tuesday.

The seven-acre parcel, owned by Herman Woods, is located off Ga. 21 south of 17th Street.

Some of the property is needed to complete the waterline, which will run along Ga. 21 from about McCall Road to the vicinity of Woods' property. The 2.5-mile waterline is being built to tie into Effingham County's line, which receives treated Savannah River water from Savannah's Industrial and Domestic Water Treatment Plant.

Time is of the essence regarding the waterline's completion due to an Environmental Protection Division deadline imposed on the city, said Councilman Paul Wendelken. The city has until the end of the year to begin using the treated surface water as an alternative to Upper Floridan Aquifer.

Construction began in late February and is expected to be completed by July.

City Councilman Scott Morgan said Tuesday he doubted that the situation would get to the point in which the city has to condemn the property.

"I believe it can all be worked out," Morgan said.

City manager gets pay raise

RINCON - After about seven months on the job, City Manager Donald Toms was voted a 5 percent raise by City Council after a closed meeting on Monday night.

Toms' salary went from about $71,400 to $75,000, said Councilman Paul Wendelken, and his severance pay was increased from one month to three months.

That amount will increase by one month up to six months for each year Toms is city manager, Wendelken said.

Councilman Scott Morgan said the pay increase was the good job Toms has been doing. Morgan said Toms has performed "above expectations."